Pasture And Rangeland

Developing plans to allocate the livestock feed available from pasture resources is essential to optimize pasture use and minimize associated costs. Useful plans are made in advance and anticipate adjustments that may be needed to respond to changes during the growing season.

While participating in high school FFA and even more so during college, my perception of the landscape around me was transformed. Initially, I perceived the outdoor environment as a little grass, a few weeds and some trees. I eventually came to see the world as composed of many different species — little bluestem, sideoats grama, western ragweed, prairie coneflower, post oak and Eastern red-cedar — just to name a few.

The next time the snow melts off, it becomes the time of year to evaluate your hay and pasture fields to determine if they need to be reseeded. First and foremost, you need to make sure the pH and fertility is adequate for the forages you want to plant.

Good beef prices give herd owners a chance to upgrade pastures to remove toxic fescue. “Replant pastures when prices rise or you will be stuck with bad grass when prices drop,” says Craig Roberts. “Beef profits give a window that is not guaranteed to last,” says the University of Missouri Extension forage specialist.

Trapping probably is the most effective feral hog control technique available to most land managers. Aerial gunning can be fairly effective but should be implemented over large areas (a few thousand acres), requires a helicopter, and can be relatively dangerous considering the necessary low altitudes and slow speed.

By Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension February 24, 2015

Spring is right around the corner and many producers with cool season grass pastures, especially in central and eastern Nebraska are evaluating whether or not to fertilize this year. In many parts of Nebraska there is adequate soil moisture in place to provide a good start to the growing season. Assuming average spring moisture, the outlook is positive for grass growth.

Severe wind and cold can cause significant problems for livestock and their owners. Evidence of such problems―the blizzard that struck South Dakota on October 4-5 of 2013. The wind, snow, and cold resulted in major cattle loss.

Alfalfa loves potassium and phosphorus and growers will soon need to apply both to keep that legume stand going, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.